4th Annual Orthopaedic Section Meeting
A Great Success!
The theme for this meeting was, Treating the Cervical and Lumbar Spine: Can Art, Science, and Practice Guidelines All Get Along?
The general sessions focused on looking at the Myths vs. Realities of the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) During Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Decision Making for the Cervical and Lumbar Spine. We then transitioned into the lab-intensive breakout sessions, beginning with a case study round-table discussion and quickly progressed into hands-on instruction, demonstration, and practice with the experts in our field.
Speakers presented in the morning general session and lead the breakout sessions to facilitate greater educational continuity. This provided participants more time for the hands-on lab sessions and enhanced their overall experience.
Watch for details to come regarding our 2017 5th Annual Orthopaedic Section Meeting
San Diego, California * April 20 - 22, 2017
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has announced the 2016 Honors and Awards Program recipients, and it is my pleasure to inform you that the following Orthopaedic Section members have been selected by APTAs Board of Directors to receive the following awards. Read on.
Imaging Education Manual Now Available
The Imaging Education Manual has been created to facilitate the continued development of imaging
instruction in physical therapist education and to heighten awareness among academic and clinical
faculty of the legislative and regulatory issues the physical therapy profession is facing. The IEM provides
resource information to assist faculty in curriculum planning and imaging instruction in both academic
and clinical venues. The ultimate goal is that all physical therapist professional educational programs
provide appropriate imaging education based on sound evidence, current APTA positions/policies, and
projected future practice models as endorsed by the APTA Vision Statement and other association
Click here to access this document and resource list.
Physical Therapy or Advanced Imaging as First Management Strategy Following a New Consultation for Low Back Pain in Primary Care:
Associations with Future Health Care Utilization and Charges
Fritz JM, Brennan GP, Hunter SJ. Physical therapy or advanced imaging as first management strategy following a new consultation for low back pain in primary care: Association with future health care utilization and charges. Health Services Research. 2015. DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12301
This study is an excellent example of health care utilization research in physical therapy. In this retrospective analysis, individuals with low back pain (LBP) who sought primary care and were initially referred for advanced imaging had a higher one-year health care utilization ($4,793 on average) than those individuals who were initially referred to physical therapy. Additionally, the odds of all utilization outcomes were higher for patients who received advanced imaging first compared to those that received physical therapy first. This study concluded that patients who consulted a primary care provider for uncomplicated LBP and received health care beyond primary care had lower medical charges and decreased need for future health care if they started with physical therapy as compared to advanced imaging. Read on.
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWLY CREDENTIALED AND RECREDENTIALED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS!!
It is our pleasure and privilege to congratulate the following Orthopaedic Residencies that have been newly credentialed by APTA
Orthopaedic Section Clinical Research Network (CRN) Grant Update
Creation of the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Investigative Network (OPT-IN) for the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome (OSPRO) Cohort Study. Read on